Parenting Styles and Early Childhood Behavioural Functioning: A Comparison Between Self-Reported and Observed Parenting Styles

• Author / Creator

  Sheh, Naomi O

• The current study investigated mothers’ and fathers’ self-reported and observed parenting styles, and determined how self-report and observation measures each predicted the social and emotional behaviours of toddlers. Thirty-one families participated in the study (18 boys and 13 girls between 29- and 46-months old; M = 36.2, SD = 4.9; 31 mothers and 31 fathers between 26 and 55 years old). Mothers and fathers completed a questionnaire concerning their child’s behavioural functioning and parent-child dyads were individually videotaped interacting in teaching and clean up tasks. Parents were assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions coding scheme. Overall, low correspondence was found between self-reported and observed parenting styles. Mothers’ correspondence between measures was stronger than fathers’, and self-reported parenting styles were stronger predictors of parent reported children’s behavioural functioning. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research on parenting styles and children’s social and emotional behaviours.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Mothers and Fathers
  • Research Methods
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Parenting Styles

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Education

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R30R9MC3P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.